Meet the Team

Meet the Team

Patrice Harris – Executive Director

Patrice Harris is the Executive Director of Black Arts Fest MKE. In her role, she is responsible for planning and execution of all aspects of the festival. She is an experienced special event professional with more than 20 years in the industry.

Patrice began her career at Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. working in the entertainment and marketing departments. In 1998, she was named the Marketing and Public Relations Director of the organization. She managed all aspects of media and public relations, festival and concert marketing, and was a spokesperson. In 2005, she transitioned to the consumer beverage industry where she worked for Red Bull North America as the Field Marketing Manager for Central Ohio. In 2007, she returned to Wisconsin to lead public relations for Wisconsin State Fair Park.

Her love of events, recognition of how they contribute to the pride and growth of a community, Harris enthusiastically embraced the opportunity to bring the vision for Black Arts Fest MKE to life.

Harris is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Communication Arts.

Board of Directors

Derek L. Tyus, CFA – ChairmanDerek L. Tyus is the Vice President and Chief Investment Officer for West Bend Mutual Insurance. In his position, he is responsible for the oversight and management of West Bend Mutual’s approximately $2 billion investment portfolio to achieve a long-term total return above the company’s peer group.

Mr. Tyus received a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting in 1991 from Marquette University and a Master of Business Administration degree in finance in 1996 from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. He received the designation of Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). Tyus currently services as a board member for several non-profit organizations including the Zoological Society of Milwaukee County (Treasurer), Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee, the Museum of Wisconsin Art, Wisconsin Historical Foundation, Milwaukee Collegiate Academy and Pathways to College.

Gregory M. Wesley, JD
Gregory Westley is the Senior Vice President, Strategic Alliances and Business Development for the Medical College of Wisconsin. key strategic leader, ambassador and advisor for MCW, and is responsible for ensuring the execution of MCW’s strategic initiatives and projects through established and emerging partnerships.

In his role, he seeks to nurture, deepen and create relationships with strategic partners, burgeoning enterprises and alliances, and others that support and create opportunities for MCW’s long-term growth.

Mr. Wesley is a former private-practice lawyer and served as an MCW Trustee from 2009-2016. Mr. Wesley currently serves on the Board of Directors of Park Bank, Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, Milwaukee World Festival, Inc., Greater Milwaukee Committee, United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County, YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee, Teach for America-Milwaukee and the Zoological Society of Milwaukee.

Nettles currently serves as a board member for several corporate, private, and nonprofit organizations. He graduated magna cum laude from Lawrence University in Appleton, WI, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School.

Jacqueline serves on several community and civic boards in Milwaukee. She was the 2016 Campaign Co-Chair of the United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County, and is immediate past chair of the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts Board, past chair of the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Milwaukee Urban League, Rotary Club of Milwaukee and MSOE Alumni Association boards. Jackie is a member of the SaintA Board, the MSOE Corporate Board, St. Ann’s Center for Intergenerational Care, the United Way of Greater Milwaukee, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin Foundation Board, Federal Defender Services of Wisconsin, Black Arts MKE, Medical College of Wisconsin and the Greater Milwaukee Foundation Board and a former member of the COA Youth and Family Services Board and University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee Foundation Board.

Jacqueline is a graduate of the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) where she earned a degree in Electrical Engineering and co-founded the school’s National Society of Black Engineers/NTA chapter.

Grady L. Crosby
Grady L. Crosby is responsible for leading Johnson Controls’ government relations strategies, sustainability efforts and its philanthropic initiatives, in order to enhance enterprise business objectives and maintain the company’s commitment to social responsibility, community involvement and the environment. In this role, Crosby continues to drive Johnson Controls’ commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive workforce as well as partnering with a diverse vendor/supplier base aligned with company values.

He serves on numerous boards, including Schools That Can Milwaukee, Wisconsin Policy Forum, Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, Black Arts MKE, Froedtert Hospital, VISIT Milwaukee, and the Greater Milwaukee Committee. He is also a member of the Executive Leadership Council.

Marvin C. Bynum II, JD
Marvin Bynum is a member of the Real Estate Practice Group at Godfrey & Kahn with clients engaged in a gamut of commercial real estate transactions, including development, financing, leasing, acquisition, disposition and low-income housing tax credit-financed development. He is experienced in representing local, regional, national and multinational companies, and he understands issues from multiple vantage points, including those of lenders and borrowers, landlords and tenants, manufacturers and startup entrepreneurs, and nonprofit organizations and tribal entities.

Bynum is a member of Milwaukee Young Lawyers Association and was name a 2015 Up and Coming Lawyer by the Wisconsin Law Journal. He serves on several boards, including the Harbor District, Inc., Milwaukee College Prep, NAIOP (National Association of Industrial and Office Parks), and is the president of the Silver Spring Neighborhood Center.

Marvin graduated cum laude from Marquette University Law School.

Barbara J. Wanzo
Barbara Wanzo has invested over 25 years in the corporate sector employing her leadership expertise in new business start-ups, technology, sales and marketing. Making the move to the nonprofit sector in 2012, she helped organizations with modest resources, enhance their social footprint, brand value and achieve significant community impact and scale.

Barbara seized the opportunity to launch a new nonprofit organization when hired as Executive Director of Black Arts MKE. BAMKE’s mission is to inspire creativity in youth by increasing the availability and quality of African American arts organizations in Milwaukee.

Barbara serves on several boards including Next Door Foundation, Silver Spring Neighborhood Center, Aurora Family Service Advisory Board, and Carmen Schools of Science and Technology. She holds an Executive MBA from Marquette University.